JP3786161B2 - Power unit support structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a support structure for a power unit used in a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a vehicle in which a power unit including an engine and a transmission is arranged along the front-rear direction and a propeller shaft is arranged along the side of the engine (for example, a four-wheel drive vehicle such as a midship engine or an RR engine, or an underfloor engine type ( For example, a cabover vehicle). Hereinafter, for convenience, the vehicle is referred to as “a vehicle in which a propeller shaft is arranged on the side surface of the engine”. ], By arranging the propeller shaft along the side of the engine, the propeller is disposed in the vicinity of the front mounting bracket that is interposed between both sides of the engine and the side frame and supports the engine (power unit). A shaft will be arranged.
[0003]
An example of this type of vehicle is shown in FIGS.
4 to 6, the vehicle 1 has an engine room 4 disposed below the floor frame 3 behind the front wheels 2. A power unit 7 including an engine 5 and a transformer 6 is disposed in the engine room 4 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1.
A pair of left and right side frames 8 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 is disposed on the lower side of the floor frame 3. A plurality of cross members (not shown) are coupled to the left and right side frames 8 and 8 to form a vehicle body frame 9.
[0004]
A pair of left and right front mounting brackets 10 are interposed between both side portions of the engine 5 located on the front side of the power unit 7 and the left and right side frames 8 and 8, and the engine 5 (power unit 7) is mounted on the vehicle body. The frame 9 is supported. A rear mounting bracket (not shown) is interposed between the transmission 6 located on the rear side of the power unit 7 and the vehicle body frame 9, and the transmission 6 (power unit 7) is supported by the vehicle body frame 9. The front mounting bracket 10 has one end side through an engine side bracket 11 held at one end side on the engine 5 side and an elastic member 13 fitted into the outer cylinder 12 held at the other end side of the engine side bracket 11. It is generally constituted by a vehicle body side bracket (not shown) supported and supported at the other end side by the vehicle body frame 9.
[0005]
A propeller shaft 14 for the rear wheels extends from the transmission 6 to the rear of the vehicle 1, and a propeller shaft 15 for the front wheels 2 extends to the front of the vehicle 1 along the side of the engine 5. Yes. In FIG. 5, 16 is an oil pan, and 17 is a timing cover.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned “vehicle in which the propeller shaft is arranged side by side on the engine side surface” as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the engine side bracket 11 (front mounting bracket 10) and the propeller shaft 15 are in an interference state. It was easy and the layout adjustment of both was difficult.
[0007]
That is, when the propeller shaft 15 is disposed with the desired strength and rigidity of the front mounting bracket 10, the engine side bracket 11 (front mounting bracket 10) is lowered downward to avoid interference with the propeller shaft 15. It is necessary to dispose (removing from the propeller shaft 15), and as a result, lowering of the minimum ground clearance is caused.
Further, in order not to cause the lowering of the minimum ground clearance, it is necessary to form an escape portion in the engine side bracket 11 (front mounting bracket 10) for avoiding interference with the propeller shaft 15, depending on the sheet metal. It is not easy to ensure the desired strength and rigidity, and the engine side bracket 11 is manufactured using, for example, a casting having strength higher than that of the sheet metal. However, when a casting is used as the engine-side bracket 11, the weight is increased as compared with the engine-side bracket made of sheet metal, and the cost is increased, which is not desirable.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a lightweight power unit support structure in which the propeller shaft can be arranged without lowering the minimum ground clearance of the vehicle and the strength and rigidity of the support member for the engine can be increased. The purpose is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a power unit comprising an engine and a transmission is arranged vertically along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a propeller is disposed between the side of the engine and the side frame so as to be along the side of the engine. A power unit in which a support member for an engine comprising a shaft and an engine-side bracket, which is coupled via an outer cylinder in which an elastic member is fitted , is interposed between both sides of the engine and the vehicle body. One of the engine side and vehicle body side brackets is a bracket body, a mounting plate coupled to one end side of the bracket body, and the outer cylinder coupled to the other end side of the bracket body. The bracket body is formed in a square shape in a cross section in the axial longitudinal direction of the outer cylinder, and the bracket body in the square shape in cross section and the mounting And the outer cylinder, the one bracket is formed in a square shape in a cross section in the radial direction of the outer cylinder to form a hollow box shape closed as a whole, and is relative to the one bracket in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. A pair of side wall plates facing each other , forming a pair of holes in the side wall plates, inserting the propeller shaft into the holes, and providing clearance between the holes and the propeller shaft to prevent mutual interference. It is provided .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, one of the brackets is an engine side bracket.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first or second aspect, an attachment portion for an engine accessory is provided in an upper portion of the hole forming portion in the one bracket , the side wall plate is bent, and the bent portion A side wall plate main body part in which the hole is formed through a portion and a side wall plate front end part having a smaller area than the side wall plate main body part are provided on the side wall plate, and an oil pipe is held in the mounting part for the engine accessory. An oil pipe is provided on the upper surface of the bracket .
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A power unit support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 based on FIGS. This power unit support structure is, for example, a vehicle such as a four-wheel drive vehicle in which the engine 5 is arranged under the floor (below the floor frame 3) shown in FIGS. The front mounting bracket 10 (support member) shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes one side of the both sides of the engine 5 and the one of the two side frames 8 and 8. It is interposed between the side frame 8 facing the side portion (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0011]
The front mounting bracket 10 has one end side (upper right side in FIG. 1) held on the engine 5 side, and an engine side bracket 11 (one bracket) holding the outer cylinder 12 on the other end side (lower left side in FIG. 1); It is generally composed of a vehicle body side bracket (not shown) in which one end side is supported by the shaft 18 in the elastic member 13 fitted in the outer cylinder 12 and the other end side is held by the vehicle body frame 9.
[0012]
The engine-side bracket 11 is coupled to a bracket main body 19 having a substantially rectangular cross section (substantially quadrangular cylindrical shape) and an opening on one end side (upper right side in FIG. 1) of the bracket main body 19 and to which the engine 5 is attached. The mounting plate 20 and the outer cylinder 12 coupled to the opening on the other end side (lower left side in FIG. 1) of the bracket body 19 are configured. The engine-side bracket 11 has a box shape that is closed as a whole by the openings at both ends of the bracket body 19 being closed by the engine mounting plate 20 and the outer cylinder 12.
[0013]
The bracket body 19 is composed of a bottom plate 21 and a pair of opposite side wall plates 22 suspended from both sides of the bottom plate 21, and a lower member 23 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and an upper portion of the lower member 23 (upper side in FIG. 1). ) It is generally composed of an upper plate 24 coupled to the opening. The upper plate 24 is disposed on one end side (upper right side in FIG. 1) of the bracket main body 19 and is disposed on the upper side of the longitudinal rectangular plate 25 on the other end side (lower left side in FIG. 1). The upper plate main body portion 25 and the upper plate end portion 26 have a smaller width dimension than the side plate main body portion 25 and the upper plate main body portion 25 and the upper plate so that the width dimension decreases from the upper plate main body portion 25 to the upper plate front end portion 26. And an upper plate intermediate portion 27 that connects the side plate tip portions 26.
[0014]
The bottom plate 21 of the lower member 23 has a shape substantially along the upper plate 24. The side wall plate 22 includes a side wall plate main body portion 28, a side wall plate intermediate portion 30 and a side wall plate front end portion 29 corresponding to the upper plate main body portion 25, the upper plate intermediate portion 27 and the upper plate front end portion 26 of the upper plate 24, respectively. The height dimension (vertical direction in FIG. 1) decreases from one end side (FIG. 1R> 1 upper right side) to the other end side (lower left side in FIG. 1). Further, the side wall plate 22 is formed corresponding to the upper plate main body portion 25, the upper plate intermediate portion 27, and the upper plate front end portion 26, so that the surface level of the side wall plate main body portion 28 is the same as that of the side wall plate front end portion 29 . It is higher than the surface level.
[0015]
The end on one end side (upper right side in FIG. 1) of the side wall plate 22 is not linear in a side view, but a bent shape (a shape in which two “ku” characters are stacked in opposite directions, hereinafter for convenience, It is called “overlapping shape”).
A hole 31 is formed in the side wall plate main body portion 28 of the pair of side wall plates 22. The propeller shaft 15 is inserted into the hole 31. The hole 31 is sized to allow the propeller shaft 15 to swing sufficiently.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the upper side portions (in the vicinity of the side wall plate intermediate portion 30) of the portion of the side wall plate main body portion 28 of the pair of side wall plates 22 formed with a substantially L-shaped bracket (hereinafter, For convenience, the front and rear brackets in FIG. 3 are referred to as first and second L-shaped brackets 40 and 41, respectively, which constitute a mounting portion for an engine accessory according to the present invention.
[0017]
Bolt insertion holes 42 and 43 are formed in the first and second L-shaped brackets 40 and 41. The first L-shaped bracket 40 is overlaid with a substantially L-shaped bracket (hereinafter referred to as a third L-shaped bracket) 45 that is joined to an oil pipe 44 (engine accessory). The oil pipe 44 is held together. One end side of the oil pipe 44 is branched so as to be substantially T-shaped, and an oil pan side pipe 47 and a turbocharger side extending to an oil pan (not shown) and a turbocharger (not shown) at both opening ends, respectively. A pipe 48 is fitted and fixed by a clamp 49 to prevent it from coming off.
The other end of the oil pipe 44 bends and extends upward in the vehicle and is inserted into a hole 51 formed in an exhaust pipe cover 50 described later. A blow-by gas reducing device pipe 52 connected to a blow-by gas reducing device (not shown) is fitted to the other end of the oil pipe 44 and is fixed to be secured by a clamp (not shown). Further, a substantially L-shaped flange (hereinafter referred to as a fourth L-shaped flange) 54 having a hole 53 is attached to the other end of the oil pipe 44.
[0018]
Further, one end side of the stay 55 is coupled to the second L-shaped bracket 41 by a bolt (not shown). A hole formed in the exhaust pipe cover 50 (engine accessory) in the hole 56 formed on the other end side of the stay 55 and the hole 53 of the fourth L-shaped bracket 54 (for convenience, the first and second holes, respectively) ) 57 and 58 are aligned, and a bolt 59 is inserted into the hole 56 and the first hole 57 on the other end side of the stay 55, and the hole 53 and the second hole 58 of the fourth L-shaped bracket 54. A stud bolt 60 is inserted into the exhaust pipe cover 50, and nuts 62, 62 are brought into contact with holes 61, 61 formed in the exhaust pipe cover 50 corresponding to a cylinder block (not shown). These bolt 59, nut 62, and stud bolt 60 Thus, the exhaust pipe cover 50 is supported by the engine side bracket 11 and the cylinder block. The stud bolt 60 also serves as a positioning function for the exhaust pipe cover 50.
[0019]
A hole (hereinafter referred to as a pipe mounting hole) 63 is formed in an upper portion of the portion where the hole 31 is formed in the side wall plate main body 28 (the back side in FIG. 3) to which the second L-shaped bracket 41 is attached. A cooling water pipe bracket 65 joined to the cooling water pipe 64 (engine auxiliary machine) is superposed on the portion where the pipe mounting hole 63 is formed (which constitutes the mounting part for the engine auxiliary machine of the present invention). And are attached by bolts 66. The cooling water pipe 64 is supported by the engine side bracket 11 via a cooling water pipe bracket 65. The oil pipe 44 and the cooling water pipe 64 are combined and integrated at a branch portion of the oil pipe 44.
[0020]
As described above, the first and second L-shaped brackets 40 and 41 and the pipe mounting hole 63 are formed in the upper part of the part of the front mounting bracket 10 where the hole 31 is formed in the engine side bracket 11 (one bracket). These parts are equipped with engine accessories such as the oil pipe 44, the exhaust pipe cover 50, and the cooling water pipe 64. Accordingly, the front mounting bracket 10 (engine side bracket 11) is attached to the engine 5 by this amount. In this way, the engine 5 can be arranged closer to each other, and the engine 5 can be easily supported.
[0021]
The engine mounting plate 20 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has the “overlapping shape” along the end of the side wall plate 22 on one end side. The engine mounting plate 20 is disposed so as to close the opening on one end side of the side wall plate 22 and is joined to the side wall plate 22.
A plurality of bolt insertion holes 32 are formed in the engine mounting plate 20, and the engine 5 is mounted on the engine mounting plate 20 by bolts (not shown) inserted through the bolt insertion holes 32.
[0022]
In the support structure of the power unit configured as described above, the engine-side bracket 11 has a box shape with a rectangular cross section, and the strength and rigidity can be improved (the section modulus is increased). For this reason, even if the hole 31 for inserting the propeller shaft 15 is formed in the engine side bracket 11, the engine side bracket 11 can maintain high strength and rigidity. Further, by inserting the propeller shaft 15 through the hole 31 formed in the engine side bracket 11, there is no need to lower the position of the engine side bracket 11 in order to avoid interference with the propeller shaft 15, and the minimum ground clearance is desired. Can maintain the height.
Further, as described above, the engine-side bracket 11 is formed in a box shape with a square cross section, so that, for example, a desired strength and rigidity can be ensured as compared with a case of a U-shape or a plate shape, and the plate thickness is reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the weight.
[0023]
Since the engine-side bracket 11 is formed in a box shape to ensure desired strength and rigidity, the engine-side bracket 11 and thus the front mounting bracket 10 are reduced in size to ensure the desired strength and rigidity as compared with the case where the engine-side bracket 11 is not formed in a box shape. Can be Furthermore, by reducing the size of the front mounting bracket 10 in this way, the front mounting bracket 10 can be provided in a narrow space, which facilitates layout.
[0024]
In addition, holes 31 are formed in the pair of side wall plates 22, and a plurality of bolt insertion holes 32 are formed in the engine mounting plate 20, so that the weight of the engine side bracket 11 and thus the front mounting bracket 10 can be reduced. Can be planned.
Further, since the holes 31 are formed in the pair of side wall plates 22, the pair of side wall plates 22, and hence the engine-side bracket 11, generates vibration noise as compared with the case where no holes are formed in the pair of side wall plates 22. Suppressed and advantageous in terms of sound vibration. In the present embodiment, the surface levels of the side wall plate main body 28 and the side wall plate front end portion 30 are different from each other with respect to the side wall plate 22 (that is, not flat). As a result, it is suppressed, and this is further advantageous in terms of sound vibration.
[0025]
Further, since the hole 31 is formed in the engine side bracket 11 and the propeller shaft 15 is inserted into the hole 31, the differential can be further arranged on the center side of the vehicle 1.
Further, since the propeller shaft 15 is inserted into the hole 31 of the engine side bracket 11, the propeller shaft 15 can be reliably held correspondingly.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the surface levels of the side wall plate main body portion 28 and the side wall plate front end portion 30 are different with respect to the side wall plate 22 (that is, not flat), and the end portion on one end side of the side wall plate 22 is the above-mentioned “ Further, the engine mounting plate 20 has the “overlapping shape” along the end portion on one end side of the side wall plate 22. For this reason, the engine-side bracket 11 and thus the front mounting bracket 10 can be improved in strength and rigidity as compared with the case of a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and thus can be further reduced in size and weight. .
[0027]
In the above embodiment, the case where the engine side bracket 11 is formed in a U-shaped cross section, the hole 31 is formed in the engine side bracket 11, and the propeller shaft 15 is inserted into the hole 31, is taken as an example. Alternatively, the vehicle body side bracket may be formed in a U-shaped cross section, and a hole may be formed in the vehicle body side bracket so that the propeller shaft 15 is inserted into the hole.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
In the first aspect of the present invention, since one bracket has a box shape with a square cross section, and the strength and rigidity can be improved, even if a hole for inserting the propeller shaft is formed in one bracket, This bracket can maintain high strength and rigidity. Further, by inserting the propeller shaft through the hole formed in one bracket, it is not necessary to lower one bracket in order to avoid interference with the propeller shaft, and the minimum ground height can be maintained at a desired height. In other words, by improving the rigidity of one bracket, it is possible to provide holes in the pair of side wall plates of one bracket, and by inserting the propeller shaft into these holes, the minimum ground clearance can be reduced. There is an effect that interference between the propeller shaft and one of the brackets can be prevented without being lowered.
[0029]
In addition, as described above, one bracket can be shaped like a box with a square cross section to improve the strength. It becomes possible to make it smaller, and the weight can be reduced accordingly.
Since one bracket is formed in a box shape to ensure desired strength and rigidity, compared with a case in which the bracket is not formed in a box shape, one bracket and thus the support member for the engine is reduced in size to ensure the desired strength and rigidity. be able to. Further, by downsizing the engine support member in this manner, the engine support member can be provided in a narrow space, and layout is facilitated.
[0030]
Further, since the holes are formed in the pair of side wall plates, the generation of the vibration sound of the pair of side wall plates and by extension of one bracket is suppressed as compared with the case where the holes are not formed in the pair of side wall plates. This is advantageous.
Further, since the propeller shaft is inserted through the hole of one bracket, the propeller shaft can be reliably held correspondingly.
[0031]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a hole is formed in the engine side bracket and the propeller shaft is inserted into the hole, the differential can be arranged more on the vehicle center side.
[0032]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mounting portion for the engine accessory is provided in the upper portion of the hole forming portion in one bracket, and the engine accessory is attached to the one bracket. ) Can be arranged closer to the engine, and as a result, the engine can be easily supported.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a support structure for a power unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a partial cutaway side view schematically showing the support structure of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the support structure and engine auxiliary equipment (oil pipe and the like) of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing an example of a conventional vehicle.
5 is a diagram schematically showing an arrangement relationship of an engine, a propeller shaft, and a mounting bracket of the vehicle in FIG. 4. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a side view of partial cutting for explaining the problems of the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
5 Engine 6 Transmission 7 Power unit 10 Front mounting bracket (supporting member for engine)
11 Engine side bracket (one bracket)
15 Propeller shaft (for front wheels)
19 Bracket body 22 Side wall plate 31 Hole

Claims (3)

A power unit consisting of an engine and a transmission is arranged vertically along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle , a propeller shaft is arranged between the side of the engine and the side frame along the side of the engine, and an elastic member is arranged A support structure of a power unit in which an engine support member composed of an engine side and a vehicle body side bracket coupled via an outer cylinder fitted inside is interposed between both sides of the engine and the vehicle body,
One of the engine side and vehicle body side brackets has a bracket body, a mounting plate coupled to one end side of the bracket body, and the outer cylinder coupled to the other end side of the bracket body. Is formed in a square shape in a cross section in the axial longitudinal direction of the outer cylinder, and the bracket body having the square-shaped cross section, the mounting plate, and the outer cylinder are used to connect the one bracket in the radial direction of the outer cylinder. Formed into a hollow box shape with a cross-section formed in a square shape and closed as a whole,
The one bracket has a pair of side wall plates opposed to each other in the axial longitudinal direction, a pair of holes are formed in the side wall plate, the propeller shaft is inserted into the holes, and the gap between the hole and the propeller shaft is formed. A power unit support structure characterized in that a clearance is provided to prevent mutual interference .   2. The power unit support structure according to claim 1, wherein the one bracket is an engine side bracket. An attachment part for an engine accessory is provided in an upper part of the hole forming part in the one bracket , the side wall plate is bent, and the side wall plate main body part and the side wall plate in which the hole is formed through the bent part A side wall plate tip having a smaller area than the main body is provided on the side wall plate,
The power unit support structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein an oil pipe is held in a mounting portion for the engine accessory and an oil pipe is disposed on an upper surface of the bracket .

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